Summary by Winslow Wheeler (Center for Defense Information): Below is a short commentary by Chuck Spinney, a personal friend and colleague, to preface another commentary by William Pfaff. The subject is how presidents, and secretaries of defense, generals, politicians, and even Hill staffers and journalists can and have been gamed by advocates in the Pentagon. …
Can Obama, or anyone else, outmaneuver the war advocates? Read More »
Continued from yesterday’s post… Unlike Iraq, we have had wise and eloquent warnings about our folly in Afghanistan. Such as this article, which I strongly recommend reading in full. The Taliban Rope-a-Dome, Franklin Spinney, Counterpunch, 14 July 2009 Excerpt Every conflict, be it conventional or unconventional, embodies an amalgam of physical, mental, and moral effects. …
We are warned about Afghanistan, but choose not to listen (part 2) Read More »
Today’s post provides a long, fact-filled analysis by Chalmers Johnson about the inner workings of our military. It folows exhaustive research about this horror show by the Center for Defense Information. Of course, all wisdom follows several years behind the writings of Fred Reed. In this case, see rules 7 – 9 from “Fred: A True …
Summary: Pirates are the latest craze to furrow brows in the geopolitical community, provoking much heavy breathing and laborious prose. Here are some posts to sort through the noise. This is the first in a series; links to the other chapters appear at the end. Summary How big is the impact so far? See “Quick Math …
It is fascinating to see how problems with our defense apparatus periodically surge into prominence. Articles in the major media relate ominous quotes by a host of concerned experts. Of course, no serious action results. Soon the Washington and media elites slump back to indifference, until their self-interested torpor is roused by the next crisis. The Army’s increasing difficulty …
